0
MeggPhaggSioux Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Mixed Tenses
Suppose I talked to a coach about his team's performance. Suppose losing has never made him happy:
(Ignoring singular/plural issues....)
"He has never been happy when the team lose."
"He has never been happy when the team lost."
Should it be "lose" or "lost"?
(Ignoring singular/plural issues....)
"He has never been happy when the team lose."
"He has never been happy when the team lost."
Should it be "lose" or "lost"?
Top answer
I would keep the tenses the same in both clauses. He is never happy when the team loses. He was never happy when the team lost.
- I would keep the tenses the same in both clauses.
- He is never happy when the team loses.
- He was never happy when the team lost.
- He has never been happy when the team has lost.
- Other combinations strike me as not quite right.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
I would keep the tenses the same in both clauses.
He is never happy when the team loses.
He was never happy when the team lost.
He has never been happy when the team has lost.
Other combinations strike me as not quite right.
CJ
He is never happy when the team loses.
He was never happy when the team lost.
He has never been happy when the team has lost.
Other combinations strike me as not quite right.
CJ
0
Related Questions